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August 23, 2006

G125: Angels 4, Red Sox 3

What happened, you ask?

In the top of the 8th, trailing by one run, Terry Francona kept Manny Ramirez and Eric Hinske on the bench and let Doug Mirabelli and Gabe Kapler face Scot Shields. ... Mirabelli grounded out to third and Kapler struck out on three pitches.

Also, in the seventh, tied 3-3, he stayed with Kason Gabbard a little too long, and Gabbard gave up the go-ahead run.

This sucks, obviously -- it would be nice if the manager cared enough to try to win -- but it also sucks because both the White Sox and Twins lost tonight. It was a chance for Boston to close the wild card gap to 3 games, but Tito apparently figured a loss was okay tonight, because his team wouldn't lose any ground. I'd like to think I'm right when I say it won't be his team much longer.

P.S. I hope Manny Ramirez -- who PH for Pedroia to start the 9th and flied to deepest center -- was too hurt to start, and not pouting or benched by Tito. Most likely, we'll never know what wenton last weekend, but if Manny is well enough to bat, he should be in the cleanup spot no matter what. (And if he's actually refusing to play, the team should come right out and say exactly that. Let us know.)

And as I type this -- 1:29 AM -- Seattle's Adrian Beltre hits his second home run of the night -- this one in the bottom of the ninth off Ron Villone, giving the Mariners a 6-5 win over the MFY. ... Thanks again, Tito, for being allergic to pinch-hitters. (Does Gabe have pix of you and a goat?)

You know, I'm really starting to admire these guys for their creativity. It's like every night they come up with a new and different way to lose.

Starting pitching doing well? No problem, don't hit. Grab the go-ahead run in a tough struggle? Bring in your worst reliever and give that lead right back. Opposing team making miscues in the field? Just go ahead and strand those guys on base.

FACT: The Sox don't deserve the Wildcard, and would not last in the play-offs if by some miracle they made it. They would be smart to go into re-building mode pronto. The Future is everything, you know. Ask Theo.FACT: IF Manny is sitting out because of a scorer's decision, the Sox and the media have an obligation to scream. The team is in free-fall and its best hitter picks now to go into a snit? If he's not, the team has an obligation to stop the libel. I presume even Manny Champion Redsock would not defend this conduct. (I hope.)

Yeah, I watched the game last night. My son shamed me into it. GOD, I don't look forward to the next 40 games.

OH...the stats posted on NESN said that when Kaplar batted in the 8th, he was a perfect 3 for 3 against Shields. Obviously a small sample isn't worth much, but Francona can be forgiven for following the trend, don't you think?How many managers would pinch hit for a guy batting 1.000 against a pitcher?

Redsock: Oh, I absolutely loved the moves...that's why I feel so duped. I believed what I was told about Hanson, Becket, Crisp, Delcarmen and Lester. And I agreed with Theo's plan. But you have to change plans when circumstances dictate. I didn't predict 102 wins with Wells, Wake, Clement and Foulke on the disabled list, and I assumed that such an unanticipated injury glut would require Theo to change plans. I believe that the Sox management in essence threw in the towel on the season, and because I DID believe the team had such potential, I think that's unforgivable.Yeah, I was a dummy. Laugh away; I earned it.But the Sox aren't paying me to be smart, either.